Lenny Kravitz As Marvin Gaye & 10 Great Music Biopics Not Yet Made

Last week it was confirmed that US singer turned actor Lenny Kravitz – whose acting credits include Precious and The Hunger Games – will star as tragic Motown legend Marvin Gaye in a brand new biopic of the star who was murdered by his father, set to be directed by Julien Temple. The film, whose working title is Sexual Healing will reportedly focuses on Marvin’s life in the 80s during which time he battled drug abuse and depression up until his death in 1984.

In the past twenty four hours, the news has been greeted by a negative response by Gaye’s son Marvin Gaye III who spoke to TMZ to beg his childhood friend to walk away from the role:

“The producers and directors of this film are very wrong and shameful … [They’re] trying to do a film about a low period in his life. They don’t even know the whole story.”

Marvin Jr says that he and Kravitz were schoolmates and that they remain friends to this day, so he intends to “talk to him about why he would do this.” He also confirmed that he and other family members will meet with lawyers to try to stop production and added, “I would hope [Lenny] doesn’t have any idea that we are against this film being done.”

The news of the biopic heading for production got us thinking once more about which fantasy projects we would like to see as part of our top 10 music biopics not yet made – from John Lennon through to the Ramones.